18th Annual HR Technology Conference and Exposition: Early Program Details Revealed

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL--(Marketwired - May 21, 2015) - Human Resource Executive^® magazine, the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR, today revealed key details of the 18th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition, to be held October 18-21, 2015, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

Among the early details to be announced are the two keynote sessions taking place during the event. The program begins with an opening keynote by Marcus Buckingham, founder of The Marcus Buckingham Company and New York Times best-selling author of such books as First, Break all the Rules and the forthcoming StandOut 2.0: Assess Your Strengths, Find Your Edge, Win at Work. During his keynote, "Centering on Team Leaders: Data-Driven Strategies for Revitalizing Engagement and Performance Management," Buckingham will present a proven blueprint that gives team leaders the data they need to dramatically improve employee engagement and performance management.

Providing the closing day keynote will be James Whitehurst, president and CEO of Red Hat and author of The Open Organization: Igniting Passion and Performance, due for release in June 2015. In "Unleashing the Power of Openness," Whitehurst will share candid advice on how organizations can configure and lead an open organization in today's fast-paced, highly connected environment. He will also explore how such an open model can be incorporated into organizations of any size to fuel greater levels of passion, engagement and performance.

The HR Tech Conference will also include 10 distinct tracks of informative sessions led by the leading experts in the HR technology field. In addition to traditional tracks, such as Core HR and Workforce Management, Recruiting, Talent Management, Technical Insight, and Workforce Analytics and Planning, this year's event will introduce four new tracks, providing attendees with insight into today's top-of-mind HR issues. The new tracks include:

• Customer Success: Exploring the steps it takes to ensure success with any technology solution, from business case and RFP development to vendor selection and implementation.
• HR Executive: Providing insights on how to create innovative workplaces, as told by HR thought leaders and senior executives shaping how HR looks and works today.
• Learning and Development: Showcasing how to make the most of advances in learning and development technology as well as best practices to maximize organizational capability to improve performance and business outcomes.
• Total Rewards: Addressing innovative, technology-driven approaches to control costs and maximize returns, given the growing importance of topics like benefits, wellness, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and more.

While the complete session schedule is still under development, the HR Tech Conference is pleased to announce several breakout sessions already on the agenda, demonstrating how world-class organizations are using technology to drive organization-wide success. Among the companies presenting are:

• Allstate on achieving a global HR transformation
• IBM on global recruiting on a large scale
• LivingSocial on engaging and retaining millennial workers
• MGM on increasing productivity and enhancing company culture
• UPS on candidate-friendly mobile recruiting

The 2015 event will also introduce the first-ever HR Tech Conference Hackathon. This exciting development competition will feature teams of engineers and designers from six leading HR technology solution providers. Attendees will get to see the latest HR technology thinking in action, and help select the winning innovation.

HR Tech Conference co-chair Steve Boese commented, "With preparations for the 18^th HR Tech Conference well underway, we are thrilled to provide this sneak peek at the schedule and highlight the unique thought leadership, educational opportunities and exciting new events at this year's program. As the challenges facing HR professionals continue to grow, we remain committed to providing the insight that will help attendees overcome their biggest HR obstacles and achieve success today and well into the future."

More details about the HR Technology Conference & Exposition can be found at www.HRTechConference.com or by calling 1-800-727-1227.

About the HR Technology Conference & Exposition
Now in its 18^th year, the HR Technology Conference & Exposition is the annual Town Meeting of thousands of professionals from around the world who gather to share their expertise and challenges in all forms of technology for HR. In addition to senior HR practitioners, every major industry analyst, consultant, blogger and vendor regularly attends. This year's event will focus on a number of topics, including how the combination of Cloud Computing, Social in the Enterprise, Predictive Analytics (including Big Data) and Mobile is ushering in a new era.

A world-renowned event for the HR industry, the HR Tech Conference is expanding to China in 2016 to provide HR professionals from across the APAC region with access to the thought leadership and technology solutions that can solve their biggest challenges. The inaugural HR Technology Conference & Exposition China will take place April 13 - 15, 2016 in Zhuhai China.

Note to editors: Trademarks and registered trademarks referenced herein remain the property of their respective owners. A limited number of press passes are available. To apply for a press pass to the 18^th Annual HR Technology Conference & Exposition, please contact The Devon Group.